Classic-Castle.com

Hi all -

I hope you've all seen public announcement of BrickFest PDX 2007. It sounds great and I hope I can make it - And many of you too!

Perhaps if anyone knows they can make it for sure, castle planning should start being organized!

-John L.

I would love to attend and meet other CC-ers. I'll keep it in mind and I hope I can make it. Thanks for posting this and keep me informed.

Tentatively...ah screw it, what am I saying, I'm so there!

Start planning your Base8 guys, I challenge us to outdo our BrickCon display.

I've offered myself as Castle (and other historical) coordinator. Organization hasn't gone that far to be official yet, but we can certainly start talking.

Whether I am coordinator or not, I would love to see a huge Base8 castle display. I plan to build more stuff to the Base8 BPB standard.

Frank

Kristin and I are planning on attending.

John, I hope you can make it too!

wunztwice, It'll be a great event I hope you can attend.

Brendan, I agree lets aim at a display twice as big! We'll have the room because the expo hall is more than 3 times the size of the one we had at NWBC.

I've got to get building! And this time I don't plan on being in 5 different themes like I was at NWBC!

Thomas

Thomas wrote:And this time I don't plan on being in 5 different themes like I was at NWBC!

I do! Who wants to join me for a pirate display?

BreadMan wrote:I do! Who wants to join me for a pirate display?

Well I said I don't "plan" on being in 5 themes but knowing what I usually end up doing I'll probably be in at least 3 themes.

I'm sure Kristin and I will bring our Pirate Island so if that could join a Pirate display we're in!

Thomas wrote: I'm sure Kristin and I will bring our Pirate Island so if that could join a Pirate display we're in!

Heck yeah, I was hoping you would. And if you could contribute a few blue baseplates as well...

What is it with you Fest-type organizers and putting everything during the school year? Brickfest in the summer was the first weekend of school for us earlier-starters, but it would have been a bad weekend for anybody just about having to move out. NWBcon is October. And this is March (and not just March, but a week before Easter- a busy time).

Sorry, just have to rant a little. I even have credit with an airline...

BreadMan wrote:Heck yeah, I was hoping you would. And if you could contribute a few blue baseplates as well...

Cool! And there should be a few new items on it as well. Yeah, I think we've got a few blue baseplates to bring.

Formendacil wrote:NWBcon is October. And this is March (and not just March, but a week before Easter- a busy time).

Sorry, just have to rant a little. I even have credit with an airline...

True but it is difficult to schedule these events. Brickfest DC has been the wrong time for me and I haven't made it to one there yet!

I hope you can make it.

Sounds great! I would really like to go and meet other Oregonian (and any other) CC-ers. Maybe I could hitch a ride with my Bro...

In Christ,

OK, looks like my "official" post was after John's announcing the event. I wondered why no one was responding...then I found this thread. Even Frank posted in this thread (pauses to weep). Right! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Looks like Frank will be coordinating the Castle display (yeah!), I may be coordinating the volunteers. So I'm gazing into my palantir (OK, its a marble) and trying to gauge interest among the locals and regular to volunteer. We will need a wide range of things from time intensive set up and tear down, to smaller, quicker stuff. Whaddya think? Please PM me.

BF PDX '04 was a huge success! It was my first Fest, and it had a great summer camp-reunion feel. This is going to be a great fest! I hope to see you all there! We should plan on a classic-castle dinner. Frank and I can show off our home city.

Formendacil--Timing is always a concern. Unfortunately there is no time that works for everyone. It's a balancing act for us all. Be patient, the right time will come for you!

A pirate display would be wonderfull also. I have lots to contribute to that. I may formalize my wharf specs to be used as a standard. I've always envisioned doing a 30' long wharf scene!

If we have lots of interest in the other historical themes, we may want some sub-coordinators. Keep your thinking caps on in that area, I'll be working with Steve and Christina as the org chart is developed.

Frank

ffilz wrote:I may formalize my wharf specs to be used as a standard.

Another standard!

Give us the specs!

Will do once I have a chance to catch my breath (since NWBrickCon, I've been focusing on a new relationship - after I finish sorting my current unsorted LEGO, I may have a bit more time for building because I'm gonna be doing a lot less buying, of course the lady will also be claiming a bunch of my time).

The slight awkward bit about the standard is that it doesn't quite match up with the Base8 cliff height. I think the main wharf surface height is the height of a log brick plus two plates (but I have to verify that).

Hmm, other than that bit that's not sure, I might as well give the rest of the standard...

The standard wharf module is a 32x32 baseplate. The wharf should come close enough to the front to interface easily with other wharfs, and of course it should have a wide enough street to interface well. You can gain extra depth by extending your wharf out onto the water in front, either along your whole length, or by piers. Between wharf modules is an 8 stud wide street. The backs of the modules should either mate to a BPB surface, or to the height standard (perhaps I can go back and add a layer of plates to mine which I think brings it up to the cliff height).

The wharf module was originally built to interface to the BirckFest 2002 modular castle town which had 32x32 blocks with 8-stud BPB streets (street level at 3 plates, NOT the 4 plate roads that might be more common with the Base8 BPB standard - however, the 1 plate difference is not at all a hassle, and the streets conveniently line up with the Base8 standard of road locations at edges of modules).

Buildings could be built on smaller 16x16 or 16x32 plots, however, you then have to be careful how you overhand. A 16x16 may overhang on two sides. A 16x32 can overhang on the 16 stud sides and one of the 32 stud sides.

Now you might wonder how the wharf height transitions down to the BPB height in back. I simply built sloping roads. The backs and sides of modules should be presentable in case there is a BPB street butting up against your module.

Larger modules:

A larger module should in general preserve the 32x32 block, however, you may want a very large building. Larger modules must in general include the dimensions for internal roads (even if they leave them off). So larger module sizes include:

32x72 (2 blocks plus a road in the middle)
72x72 (4 blocks plus roads in the middle)
32x112 (3 blocks plus roads in the middle - this is the size of my current wharf scene)

Intregral roads:

You may add roads to the size of your module. A module might thus become 32x40, or 40x40, or 48x40, or 24x32 (16x32 module with road along one side).

Integral roads are a great way to make a cleaner transition from wharf height to BPB height.

Back blocks:

Blocks for the portion behind the main wharf are welcome. They may either be at wharf height, or BPB height, and may provide transitions and integral roads.

CCC Risers:

Modules which allow CCC buildings to be placed on top at wharf height are welcome.

Possible additions:

Canals and rivers:

Canals and rivers leading through the wharf area are most definitely welcome. If you stay at wharf height, water courses should be a canal. Canals could be 8 studs or 16 studs wide. Modules that adapt a canal to a Base8 BPB stream or river are welcome.

A 16-stud canal will need additional planning if you want to make smaller modules.

Beaches:

Modules that drop down to BPB height and have a Base8 BPB beach interface are possible.

Frank